The Raggedy Man's Revenge

Extracts from the Personal Diary of Dr Elisa Jamieson MD

It has been six months since I oversaw the burying of the creature at the longbarrow near Avebury Hill. From what I was later able to learn I suspect it was very unlikely that the creature would have been killed. Of course I can only hope that it will not resurface but life has not been quiet in the meantime.

The strangeness that appears to have taken over my life has not given up, by any means, as my handler within MI13 has been pushing me to read two books from within their strange library; a library that contains an extensive collection of odd tomes with strange sounding names. One that was entitled the 'Sussex Manuscript' was fairly simple as it was written in English. While the other, called 'The Eltdown Shards' caused my head to ache. The booklet is in English (though the writer seemed to be distracted and seemed to change tack every page) but the original tablets it's based on are written in a language that I had to learn from scratch.

They also insisted on training me in a language that seemed useless to me until I saw this book. My trainer informed me that the language was called Hyperborean. I have looked on maps but still am unable to ascertain Hyperborea’s location.

As a final act before I was allowed to return to my duties at the Royal Berkshire, they tried to convince me that I should learn some spells, one of which, called 'Pentagram of Protection', they said was essential, but I am obviously no Hermione Granger and my logical mind was unable to accept the concept of magic spells. I informed my mentor of my suspicions regarding the creature in Avebury and he suggested I learn other spells that would work against the creature. I was of course initially sceptical, especially when one spell he suggested would actually bring the creature to me but when it was fully explained I could see the usage.

I’m still seeing James, which should at least please my mother as she keeps insisting that I am nearly thirty so I should be settling down. I think that this could be the real thing for me but not exactly sure as I would become Mrs Eliza Doolittle. This damn MI13 business is also putting a major crimp in my career plans as I was hoping to be on the surgical teams by now but there is little hope if I have to keep disappearing.

Thursday July 20^th:

Anyway, finally back at work in Accident & Emergency and I get the shift of death again; on call Friday and Saturday night! Wonderful! That’s my plans of a night out with James up the swannie.

Just finished patching up a fifteen stone bloke who thought it was clever to pick a fight with a bouncer and I finally get a break… …Well doesn’t that beat all, the canteen closed five minutes before I arrived so all that’s left are the plastic sandwiches in the machine. As I sit down my phone goes - well at least it's not my damn beeper. I take note of the number and it takes me a few moments to realise who is calling. I answer as my parents have drummed it into me that it is impolite not to.

Sure enough it is Dr Belinda Durham. I haven’t spoken to her since January that I can recall so why she chose to ring me is beyond me but it was soon to become clear.

Belinda informed me that she had just received a strange phone call from a woman named Mavis Enderby, who quoted poetry to her over the phone. While this in itself I found strange (phoning someone and quoting poetry are not the acts of a logical mind) but the choice of poem itself was also poignant as the poem she chose to quote was The Raggedy Man by James Whitcomb Riley; a poem we found displayed among papers on the unfortunate Dr Treadle’s bed in Avebury.

But the oddest thing of all was a parting comment that we did not want to meet the fate of St Barty. I inquired if Mavis could be referring to someone named Bartholomew. Belinda said she did not know so I decided that once I got off the phone I would contact Lionel Woodthorpe to ascertain if there was anyone in the society named Bartholomew. Belinda then invited me for lunch at the British Museum's Weston Gallery the next day. Perhaps it was a combination of tiredness and plastic sandwiches that convinced me to agree to the meeting at 1pm Sunday in the Romano-British exhibition.

I contacted Lionel and he informed me that he was unaware of anyone named Bartholomew in the society. I also thought about trying out MI13 with this same information but again was to run into a brick wall. Strangely enough my normal handler has been moved and I have now to deal with someone who does not appear to be aware of what transpires in the department.

Friday July 21^st:

I arrived, as arranged, at 1pm to meet Belinda but was surprised to learn that we would not be alone as she had also invited Barbara Smythe, the security lady that appeared to be attached to English Heritage. Lionel was also to meet us there. Belinda also informed us that she had left a message for St John Cartwright-Fiennes but he was not present.

After the meal we finally managed to obtain some information from Lionel about where Mavis lives but he revealed that she was rarely there. He did give us the whereabouts of an ex-colleague of Mavis; a certain Dr Toby Higginbotham. Pooling our four minds we were also able to figure out that Saint Barty was in fact Saint Bartholomew who was martyred after meeting a rather grisly end at the hands of the Syrians. Saint Bartholomew was hung upside down, flayed of his skin and beheaded.

Lionel also arranged for us to go and meet Dr Toby Higginbotham who was presently residing in Crowthorne, Berkshire. Or to be slightly more accurate, the Wilmarth Facility in Broadmoor Prison!

Upon arrival at Broadmoor, we all noted that there were no signs visible to identify the location of the Wilmarth Facility. When we asked about the location we were instructed to wait and shortly a young lady doctor who was surprisingly dressed in a white coat (unusual as most psychiatrists tend to prefer casual clothing to put their patients at ease). She led us round the back of the prison to a small unit hidden behind the main block. We were also informed that only one of us would be able to talk to Dr Higginbotham and that the other two would have to watch on a monitor.

We were then taken into a dark room with a television monitor for Belinda and another for Barbara and myself. Initially the picture showed an empty cell, then the door opened and Dr Higginbotham was wheeled into vision. To many, his initial appearance could be said to be a shock as he was restrained in much the same way as Hannibal Lector in Silence of the Lambs. I saw the large coloured nurse inject something into his neck, very likely a stimulant. This indicated to me that Higginbotham is usually kept sedated. The only question is why? Strangely enough this caused a dangerous thought to emerge in my mind. Is it very likely that both Higginbotham and Enderby have both worked for MI13? If so, is this to be my eventual fate? It is certain that Lionel worked for MI13 in some capacity. Then the large coloured nurse and a male and female nurse removed only enough of Higginbotham's restraints to allow him to talk to us.

Dr Toby Higginbotham himself looked like a forty/fifty year old school teacher and I was quiet surprised to discover him quiet, well-spoken and genteel. Considering where he presently resides, this was somewhat of a shock but I was soon to see the reason for his incarceration. He stated that he was a well-respected archaeologist and was an expert on ancient cultures inclusive of Mesopotamian and Hyperborean. (Hyperborean again!)

Toby stated then that Mavis’ gibberish may actually imply something as he translated that the word 'Wunks' in the poem could be translated to mean 'Elder Things' and also that the 'Squidgicum-Squee' could refer to the servants of the Elder Things. Once again this points to our earlier encounter with the creature that killed and skinned poor Dr Treadle. My own research confirmed my earlier conception that this referred to another one of the creatures buried under the longbarrow at Avebury if not the same one that may have escaped.

When asked what Mavis meant by 'St Barty', Toby reacted violently. He began to jump around as much as he was able within his restraints, alternately giggling insanely and calling out names I had seen in the books I had recently read. This was not good but then he slipped into babbling in the strange language that I recognised as the language I been taught at MI13. Unfortunately I was unable to translate as he was speaking too quickly. So I improvised; as fast as I could, I dug out my phone and began recording his babbling in case it became vital later. Unfortunately I was not quick enough and missed the start - this may prove vital!

I have seen madness in asylums like this before so was fortunately barely affected. However, Belinda seemed extremely distressed by his transformation and had gone as white as the asylum walls. Barbara seemed quite shocked and was a little pale. The staff were quick to restrain Toby, gagging and sedating him with some difficulty. As to his fate, we were unable to view further as the large coloured nurse stepped forward to shut off the video feed. We were then taken to a room were the staff analysed what he said - or at least this is what they claimed - a half hour later we were cleared to leave.

I was shocked to discover that Adam Walters was actually working here, confirming in my own mind initially that he was not a patient. He stated that he was working with some of the patients here. While I have seen his powers in use and while they appear to work I am still largely sceptical as to the long-term effects.

I once again decided that things were occurring that could lead to disaster and I quickly headed to MI13 to convey my fears. Unfortunately I was to meet and deal with the same odious civil servant that I had dealt with earlier. He appeared to be largely unaware of the strange goings on around Avebury and Silbury Hill last January. He did, however, order me to investigate the longbarrow and also gave me a chit for the library, stating that I was the authority on these items anyway and that I would have to deal with them. Then he actually, for the first time since I had begun working with him, made a decisive movement in phoning the Royal Berkshire to release me from my duties so that I could work for MI13. The hospital was not best pleased but had no choice than to release me, as he declared it was important to do so. I then took my recording and headed for the library. It was to take two whole days for me to decipher Toby’s babbling. How the people at Crowthorne had dealt with it in a half hour was beyond me. My genuine belief is that they had no clue as the message's content.

Sunday July 23^rd:

Toby Higginbotham’s translation revealed itself to be either a spell or a curse, which he had obviously modified for this usage. I would not even consider trying anything of this manner myself and Toby’s condition was only to rubber stamp this belief. The spell appeared to be cast on another’s behalf as it seemed to be using strange pronouns that would attract the attention of a deity of unknown origin to the female. Once again this was unclear whether it was the coloured nurse or Belinda. Unfortunately the name of the deity in question was in the section that I was unable to record.

Fearing Belinda may be in danger, I attempted to contact her on her mobile but only received her voice mail. I left a message stating where I would be and headed home to prepare for a trip to the Beckhampton Longbarrow in the morning.

Monday July 24^th: Before I left I received a phone call from Belinda reporting that she was in hospital with an abdominal wound, which she informed me resulted from an ice age spear! This puzzled me for a moment until I remembered about Geoffrey Baxter’s strange homemade binoculars, which seemed to allow you to see into the past! That’s twice now those things have resulted in major abdominal wounds.

Fully rested, straight after breakfast I set out. Someone attempted to contact me on the way; I was unable to answer but I would check my messages as soon as I got to Avebury. As I arrived in Avebury I noted that the message I had received was from Barbara Smythe inviting me to meet her in a local pub for lunch. I agreed but thought that I should first investigate the barrow.

I was initially pleased to discover that our damage from January had been repaired and was even more pleased to note that the area was undisturbed. I was shocked, however, to note Belinda’s all-terrain vehicle parked nearby and more disturbed to note the large bloodstain on the grass!

I contacted Belinda to ascertain what was occurring and discovered that she had not been alone during the stabbing incident and had in actual fact been accompanied by St John Cartwright-Fiennes and Adam Walters.

I was unsure whether St John even owned a mobile and decided that it was very unlikely, so, obtaining his number from Belinda, I attempted to contact Walter but got only his voice mail. I left a message and, as it was nearing midday, headed for my meeting with Barbara. Once again we all seem to have congregated in Avebury. Hopefully the stabbing of Belinda will be the only incident this time. (How wrong I was.)

Upon joining Barbara, I was to ascertain that St John and Walters were assisting the police in their inquiries regarding the unusual demise of a local tramp known in the area as Hagrid. A character I had met on my last visit to the area. The two gents were to join us in the pub later, having to catch the bus after their statements had been taken. (This is worrying as the ministry prefers to keep a lid on strangeness such as this - I quickly passed this information along and was informed that they would suppress as much as possible.)

After a pleasant lunch, St John informed us all of incidents that had occurred. First he had been moved on by a policeman and woman. (Unfortunately he had not thought to note their numbers.) This in itself was not unusual however.

Then a strange cult had held some sort of midnight vigil in the nearby stone circle; known as the 'Children of Light', a group their leader describes as being on the side of the angels, the leader claiming to know the true name of the angel Gabriel. I always thought that was his true name but according to the cult his name is Djehuti. Strangely, this name sounded slightly Egyptian and when I checked it seemed to link to an Ancient Egyptian god known to the Greeks as Thoth, usually depicted as the Ibis headed Bearer of Words.

St John observed the ceremony and informed us that he recognised two of the senior cult members; one being the policeman who had moved him on earlier and the second Jules’ (St John's partner's) friend, a lady named Imelda who he claimed wished them to make trinkets for her shop in Salisbury. The group appeared to be led by a male of Hispanic decent. St John described the meeting as being a large amount of chanting rising to a crescendo at the stroke of midnight. St John claimed that the Hispanic fell to his knees with a scream that appeared to coincide with a loud thunderclap. This could have been a well prepared recording (American cults are well known for such scams). This was reported in the local papers to have caused dogs to howl and also affected other domestic mammals. Most likely a sub-harmonic created by a combination of the low chanting; the scream of the Hispanic gentleman and the thunderclap. He was then helped to his feet by St John’s new friend and the mysterious policeman.

St John revealed his friend Jules was also affected. I always thought there was something up with that girl but still this does cause me concern. St John then declared that he had observed a clandestine meeting involving several of the cultists (one of which was the policeman, another was the Hispanic, but the third he was unable to identify), in which one of the conspirators stated that he would see to the master's wishes on Silbury Hill while the others dealt with Imelda. The third conspirator spoke with a guttural voice akin to someone talking with a severe sore throat. This was obviously the true leader giving orders. The group appeared to split up and he claimed to have heard them dragging away something heavy.

Shortly a scream was heard that pierced the night, which St John recognised as belonging to Jules. On rushing back, he found her huddled in the corner of his camper van clutching a knife and shaking. Jules claimed to have seen the face of Hagrid looking at her through the window so St John decided they would have words the next day. St John also claimed there were deep impressions in the ground were he must have stood to look through the window, they were worryingly a lot deeper than should have been made by a man, even a man as big as Hagrid, as the ground was bone dry.

St John and Walters decided to go visit Hagrid together but upon approaching his caravan they noticed a strange odour which St John identified as similar to the smell round Dr Treadle in January. St John then noticed something under the caravan and took a look (instantly regretting the decision as there appeared to be a hand and an arm devoid of skin). They reported this to the local police and two cars were sent. (Note neither the policeman nor woman that had moved him along the other day were among the officers.)

The sergeant in charge decided to look under the caravan though St John advised he should not. Perhaps he should have taken the advice as he took one look, collapsed in a dead faint and later expelled the contents of his stomach in the nearby bushes. The scenes of crime people were then called. This is a major problem as its going to take a lot work to cover this up.

Adam Walters also informed us that he had received a phone call from a Hispanic gentleman by the name of Rodriguez who had offered to buy Geoffrey Baxter’s binoculars for £50,000! Walters turned him down but how did he know Walters had the binoculars because I’m quite sure he did not advertise them? It was also a mystery how he was able to acquire Walters’ number. I informed MI13 of the security issue regarding the scenes of crime people and also my suspicion that the creature under the longbarrow was once again on the loose. I was instructed to wait until I was given further instructions on how to proceed. Shortly the department got back to me that they would suppress the paperwork and then instructed me that I would have to deal with the autopsy to further assist with the cover up.

So I excused myself and set off to Swindon to deal with the autopsy. When I arrived the body was covered with a white sheet. As the sheet was removed a number of things were readily noticeable. Firstly, the body had been sloughed of its epidermis; the head was not present; and, most worrying of all, the body was covered in what I instantly recognised as cytolytic slime (Yuck! Why is it always Slime?) After careful removal and bottling of the slime, I began.

First I noted that the body was that of a male in excess of six feet, was of middle age and of a stocky build. The body had been flayed of all the epidermis and, as far as I could tell, the epidermis had been lifted off the tissue below before removal. As to how this was done is a mystery.

An incision had been made up the back and the epidermis removed from the feet up. It appears that the creature has been practising, as this was a much superior skinning than the previous example with Dr Treadle. The head had also been carefully removed. It will have to wait for the information to come back from the lab to ascertain in what order things occurred. I can only hope that he was deceased when the epidermal extraction began.

The worrying thing here is the fact the creature appears to be learning as it now has a fully functional human suit with a rear entry point, which will be easy to cover with clothing. It was also noted that, unlike with Dr Treadle, all clothing was unaccounted for. As to how long the body had lain under the caravan, that would have to wait as the cytolytic slime aged the body so that time of death will be difficult to ascertain with any accuracy. Hopefully the lab will be able to tell more.

One notable difference between the bodies of Hagrid and Treadle is that it would appear that a quarter to a third of Hagrid’s body mass appears to be missing and there is evidence that something was devouring the body! It is unclear whether the creature was using Hagrid as a personal buffet bar or as a way of destroying the evidence. My own personal opinion is that the creature was eating him as all the evidence points to the fact that he was being dissolved and then sucked though a tube in much the same way as a fly consumes its food.

All organs were present, exempting the brain, but some were not as heavy as expected for a man of this size, due to external digestion, as noted above. (Note: there is a strange smell permeating the air, unsure where it originates but is noted that it appears to be cloying and sticky - must check myself out, is this how the stuff gets under the skin? I take samples of the air and of my own skin and tissue and send these to the lab expressing my concerns; will not tell others of my suspicions as I do not wish to worry them overly.) Note to self: check on Treadle autopsy after head was found to see if brain was found. Question: does this creature learn by devouring brains? I leave the assistant to close after warning him not to let any of the tissue mass come into contact with his bare skin.

Barbara Smythe phones me while I’m cleaning up. I let my voice mail answer while I pack up the samples to be sent to the lab and my own reports, which will be sent to MI13 while retaining the copy myself. After cleaning up, I head to the social area to get a coffee.

Having sat down with my drink, I check my messages and reply to Barbara. She wishes to meet me at Silbury Hill and wants to know when I can get there. I could possibly get there quite quickly but choose instead to say midnight.

I arrive slightly before midnight in the car park but there is no sign of anyone around so I remove my helmet and wait. Shortly, I receive a phone call telling me that they are on the hill and will be with me soon.

I sit here thinking; is this hill really some sort of intricate Pentagram of Protection created centuries ago? It is certainly too regular to be natural, it appears to be a perfect octagon. There has to be a reason yet its mysteries are still beyond my knowledge.

The next few days would certainly clear up several of the questions I felt needed closure. However, some yet require some further resolution.

After the stresses of the last few days I felt that it was essential that I get some sleep before I collapsed from exhaustion so I returned to the bed and breakfast surprisingly enough I realised upon waking that I had been given the same room Dr Treadle had stayed in before his grisly end hopefully this was not a sign. Anyway less of this musing on a possible fate the night was thankfully uneventful and I woke to an excellent breakfast.

Tuesday 25th July:

We had all arranged to meet in the morning on Silbury Hill and Barbara had promised us that she would get the key to the cap and allow us access the hill itself. She informed us that this was a result of a strange figure she had observed on the hill the previous evening a figure that had slipped an item under the capstone and then fled into the night.

As we entered, the first thing noticeable was the it was relatively light inside due to the large block of polystyrene filling most of the area with the except of a sizable hole in the centre of the floor and a ladder leading down. There is a noticeable draft coming up through the hole and the air was warm and musty. St John has brought his dowsing rods with him and he appears to be attempting to use them to track the supernatural. I have seen him do this previously and it is quiet fascinating that this works and to think I thought all that dowsing rods were for is finding water. (Wonders will never cease I suppose, perhaps all this strangeness has finally killed my sceptical side.) We can see no sign of any item that could possibly have been pushed under the cap so we assessed that maybe it had gone down the hole.

We carefully approached the edge and looked down. While the polystyrene helped by extending the range of the torch beams we were unable to see the bottom. This was a trifle surprising as the hole was only supposed to extend half way down Silbury Hill yet the light appeared to finally peter-out a lot deeper.

Adam Walters then volunteered to climb down the hole to see what was at the bottom. I gave him my maglite so that he would be able to see as he climbed down. He gave a running commentary so that we could remain in the picture. It appears that the hole extended to the foot of the hill and belled out for the last fifty feet or so leaving a kind of anteroom. He stated that the temperature near the base was considerably higher than at the top (strange for if I remember my physics correctly warm air usually rises.) It also appeared that the ladder did not quite reach the bottom and stopped some three feet from the floor.

Adam then reported he could see boot prints in the earth together with two metal plates one flush to the ground and the other on edge maybe it was one or both of these metal items that the figure slipped under the cap. (My personal suspicion is that it was the metal plate on its edge that the figure slipped in.)

Adam decided to then return to the surface without dropping to the floor. It took several minutes for him to get back to us and he felt the need to take a rest during his return. I don’t know whether this was a result of the heat in the shaft or due to Adam Walters being in poor shape. One thing for sure is that when Adam finally emerged from the shaft he was drenched in sweat. He quickly confirmed what he had told us during his descent, that not only was it considerably warmer down the shaft but worryingly there was quite a recognisable smell - the smell we had detected around the bodies of both Dr Treadle and Hagrid; the unmistakeable smell of cytoplasmic slime.

St John then volunteered to go down the shaft but only after he informed us that he suspected Silbury Hill was leeching energy from the local leylines which he stated was strange and that this is not a natural occurrence. This appeared to support my belief that Silbury Hill is in fact a very elaborate circle of protection.

Perhaps on second thought I should have gone down as St John's decision nearly ended in disaster. Anyway I digress, St John went down the shaft and, as he observed the plates, he assessed that both were made of bronze, that the one stuck in the ground appeared to have hieroglyphs displayed on its surface and it looked quiet old.

St John, unlike Adam, chose to take a closer look; he dropped from the ladder and moved to retrieve the plate on its edge. This item was about the size of record card but appeared to be made of bronze. St John had forgotten to take gloves with him so had to use part of the bag to pick it up and deposit it within. He claimed that while there were hieroglyphs on one side the adverse side was blank.

The other metal plate was flush to the ground and had no symbols on the uppermost surface however St John lifted it and claimed there was a drawing of a starfish on the base. He also declared that there was a hole beneath the plate and that both the temperature and musty smell increased in the hole while it was lifted. St John then heard the sound of earth moving above him and chose to make a hasty retreat letting the second plate fall back. He stated that it fell back into the hole but he was unsure as to which way up he had left the plate.

I thought Adam Walters was in bad shape but St John’s physical condition was even worse. He had to stop at least twice during the ascent and was sweating like he had been in a sauna. He nearly passed out at one stage and looked like he was going into shock. I started to prepare a syringe with adrenaline, which should have given him the extra boost to achieve the top of the hole. However, Adam chose to go down and assist his ascent before he collapsed and fell back down the hole. As he acquired the top of the hole I gave him the shot and while initially his condition gave me a little concern (he began to hyperventilate) his system soon settled down. He was dangerously dehydrated but when we gave him sufficient liquids and salts his condition settled down.

After he had settled down we asked if he could draw the starfish shape he had seen on the base of the second plate. He drew a shape that was reminiscent of the symbols Dr Treadle had drawn before his unfortunate demise. Looking at the symbol I surmised that it might once again be related to the Wunks (Elder Things). The same strange ancient star shaped creatures that had long ago created the servant Squidgicum Squees and had then in turn been overthrown by those self same servants.

Upon looking at the other plate we noted that the symbols upon it appeared to be Egyptian Hieroglyphs, unfortunately none of us knew how to translate the symbols. So we decided that our best hope for a translation was Belinda. Visiting hours were not for an hour or so and we decided to take in a quick lunch at the Red Lion. St John stated that he would like to go home and change and agreed to meet us at the Red Lion. I felt this was a fairly reasonable request as he was rather sweat soaked.

As we were sitting down to lunch, St John rejoined us in a slightly agitated state claiming that his partner Jules had received a message to attend a meeting with Imelda Harris (a lady Jules was supposedly making jewellery for) in the upstairs room at the Wagon and Horses. St John appeared to be suspicious of the meeting as this was the same Imelda Harris he had heard being dragged off after a meeting with Mr Rodriguez (the suspicious Hispanic leader of the Children of Light). We alleviated his fear for the time being by phoning the Wagon and Horses and while they said that Jules was in attendance. The girl on the phone stated that there was as yet no sign of the Harris woman. It was decided that we would look into this more thoroughly after we had returned from visiting Belinda.

Belinda was still in the Kingfisher ward at Royal Wiltshire but she looked much better. She informed us all that she was due for release in the next twenty-four hours. The specialist had informed her earlier that she had been very lucky as the peritoneum had been punctured but was not torn and that her injuries were incredibly clear of bacteria.

However, Belinda informed us of a more worrying episode that very afternoon she had awoken from a nap to find a small weasely looking man going through her locker. Belinda informed us that she was unable to see his face and the hospital gave the excuse that he was possibly a drug addict or some such but surely if this had been the case surely they would have taken Belinda’s handbag and mobile but they had been tossed to one side it was as if the figure was looking for something in particular.

We showed Belinda the plaque we had brought from Silbury Hill (Belinda expressed regret here that she had not been with us when we had gone into Silbury Hill) and she identified the symbols as being Hieroglyphs while expressing that this was not her usual area of expertise she said that she would contact a colleague who would translate the meaning. Belinda made the phone call and sent the photo of the plaque to her colleague who said she would put a rush on it but it would still take about an hour.

We had to leave before Belinda’s colleague got back to her but Belinda forwarded the information to us as soon as she received the data. It appears that the plaque is the top right corner of larger plaque but it has been sawn off recently – 'why' is a mystery. The original plaque was stolen quite recently from the Louvre in Paris. Why someone would steal an item to order and then destroy it is beyond my understanding.

Belinda’s colleague translated the plaque as containing reference to Djehuti in one of the earliest old kingdom forms we were also told that this was unusual as the plaque itself was dated sometime in the middle kingdom. But this could not be verified, as it was believed that the archaeologist who had initially examined the artefact had made mistakes. The Greeks knew Djehuti as Thoth and the Children of Light hierarchy bandy about the name as the true name of the archangel Gabriel. (I wonder if the Children of Light were anywhere near Paris at the time when the plaque was stolen?)

We received this information from her about an hour after leaving the hospital and so now had numerous leads to investigate. St John and Barbara decided to go and try and ascertain whether Jules had concluded her meeting with the Harris woman and if she had not to try and find out what exactly was happening. In the meantime I would go with Adam Walters to MI13. I really needed to find out more about these Elder Things and their servants; a second pair of eyes would cut down the research time considerably.

However, we were unable to get to London before MI13 closed. It was decided that we would possibly get a better start in the morning, as both of us were a little frazzled from lack of sleep. I decided that it would possibly be for the best for us to stay at my flat we should have a quiet night as my roommate Susanne is on holiday. Nine messages on the answer machine four of them from my department head asking when I’ll be back at work how I answer that I don’t know. One from Susanne saying she’s having a great time. (GOD wish I could get a holiday or even some sleep!) One from James checking in with me (what a love). And three from Indian flaming call centres trying to sell me something. Adam was going to order a takeaway but I made him something instead. I got him some sheets and set up the sofa bed for him took a shower and was in bed by half nine.

Wednesday 26th July:

Someone is determined to wreck my sleep pattern as just gone midnight my pager went off. After exhausting my range of Anglo Saxon expletives (which are quiet extensive) I finally found the right god damned pager. (Oh my god there is still someone at MI13 at this ungodly hour). Anyway it appears another body has been brought into the Royal Wiltshire and MI13 want me to do the autopsy. (I am led to believe this is another tramp well - that only goes to show how wrong that assumption was.) I inform Adam that I am going to Swindon and instruct him to ensure that all closes up when he leaves after all it is a secure building. I then take my leave.

Arriving once again at the Wiltshire at about one in the morning, I check in with reception and am informed that the autopsy will be performed in the pathology lab on the sixth floor. I precede to the lifts. Once in pathology, I suit up in a full bio-suit. Well it looks like I’m flying solo on this one. I check my tools (mental note: it's bizarre that I think of them as tools not instruments) and await the body. I have been informed that a porter will bring it up from the mortuary in the basement.

Ten minutes and no sign of a body so I decide its time for some positive action. I contact the porters' station to ascertain what is going on and am informed by the senior porter that the porter should be with me, a man by the name of Kenton Evans. I arrange that the senior porter meet me in the mortuary and head for the lifts.

I meet the senior porter as I leave the lift and we head into the mortuary together. There appears to be no sign of anyone in the mortuary. I am concerned about the disappearance of the porter due to the recent happenings. The senior porter obviously assumed Evans had slipped off somewhere, probably for a smoke. Anyway we make our way over to the drawer in which the body I have come here to autopsy is supposed to be stored.

The senior porter opens the drawer and takes in involuntary step back as the body on the shelf is assuredly not in the same condition it was when it was put in and, if he were to ask me, not even the same body. As the porter takes a step back he is unfortunate to step in a small part of Mr Evans’ brain, falling to the floor and knocking himself senseless. It appears that the creature was in a hurry and a little careless.

Oh my god! What have we got here? This thing can behead and skin a man in less than ten minutes and we are talking a six foot plus hospital porter!

I look on the shelf and it is no surprise to me to see a skinned body, but what is a little surprising is that sitting on his chest is the eyeless and very empty head of the tramp Hagrid.

I am certain now of one thing that I had always suspected and this was that the creature ate the brains of its victims and thus acquired their knowledge. The creature also appears to have developed a kind of animal cunning lying outside and acting as if dead getting brought in and then assuming another identity in which it can achieve its goal to get to someone or somewhere that should be inaccessible.

Neatly rolled between the feet is Hagrid's skin. Wonderful! It even has time to roll its old skin up but then goes and leaves brain matter on the floor. So its pretty obvious that the creature has got itself an upgrade from smelly tramp to hospital porter but 'why is it here' I have to ask myself.

Suddenly it springs into my mind that it's after Belinda - and if it has the porter's brain then it knows were she is!

I quickly ensure that the senior porter is not in danger by placing him in the recovery position. However he will probably have a concussion judging from his injuries. I close the drawer and run to the lift hitting the third floor button repeatedly. Damn this slow lift! But at least it’s quicker than the stairs in an unfamiliar hospital. On my way back up, I suddenly realise that I don’t know what Kenton Evans looks like, though as it turns out this will not be an issue.

As the lift doors open onto the third floor, I am running like the devil is after me for the Kingfisher ward. As I arrive there already appears to be an incident occurring. I grab a nurse and instruct her of a casualty in the mortuary and continue my wild dash towards Belinda’s bed.

I take in the scene of commotion in a split second: Belinda is lying on the bed and there appears to be a large coloured man on top of her with both his hands on her shoulders pinning her down. (I instantly assume that the man is Kenton Evans as he is wearing a porter's uniform as well as his skin in this case.)

I quickly hit the fire alarm button and after a quick glance around for either a fire extinguisher or an empty bed I finally have to console myself that the only weapon I can use would be one of the visitors' chairs. Grabbing a folding chair, I head towards the bed.

There appear to be two nurses already in attendance but only one I feel will be any use in the next few moments, she appears to be trying to lever the Evans/Treadle/Hagrid creature off poor Belinda by placing her knee in his back, gripping his shoulders and pulling, while the other nurse who I am sure has acquired a much better look at what is transpiring is lying across the next bed screaming.

The creature appeared to vomiting a black ichor onto Belinda’s face. Well that didn’t look good. Fortunately for both me and the brave nurses fingers, as I began to swing the chair the Evans creature raises its head - the black ichor leaving Belinda’s skin with a slight sucking sound (a little like the sucker on those arrows my brother used to play with when we were children).

My chair connected firmly with the Evans creatures face, driving the head from the shoulders just like a golf ball off a tee. Then two things happened almost simultaneously: all the ward lights came on full and there was an audible crack.

It appeared that the creature was obviously much larger than the Evans body it occupied as it began to expand, shredding the Evans disguise as it went.

This was the first time we have been able to get a good look at this thing without its outer covering. As far as I could see it was a large black gelatinous mass with numerous eyestalks that appeared and disappeared almost at the creature's whim.

Strangely enough the creature must be entirely nocturnal not really surprising judging from its appearance as it appeared to react very badly to the lights, heading directly toward the windows and throwing itself through, dropping the thirty or so feet to the tarmac below before it slithered off out of sight.

I thought maybe we could track it if I could get my phone into its gelatinous mass, unfortunately I’m a runner and I throw like a girl (not surprising really because I am one). Damn! I’m going to have to get a new phone now.

I decided quickly to check on Belinda rather than pursuing the creature into the night. It appeared that other than a major attack of the screaming ab-dabs, the damage to her face looks to be nothing more than a reddening of the skin as it attempted to digest her. The only other damage she had suffered was the stitches in her midriff. Belinda claimed the creature had targeted them; the stitches been torn out and she also seemed to have picked up an infection around the wound.

I realised that she was going to be asked questions that would very likely cause a lot more problems than solve them so I advised Belinda to stretch the truth somewhat. I realised that this incident was clearly in the public domain so I grabbed a nearby phone and contacted MI13 in hope of getting a clean up team. They said they would do what they can but in the same breath informed me that it was up to me to sort out this dreadful mess. However they would dispatch Adam Walters to assist.

It was obvious to me that the creature would require a new body and soon I suggested that we should be on the look out for any missing persons in excess of six foot in the Swindon and surrounding areas as it would appear that this creature has a major problem regarding bright lights.

I receive a message from MI13 declaring that they would be dispatching a detective and forensic team from Special Branch as soon as possible and he would be taking it out of the hands of the local plods.

The story we finally decided upon was that the attacker was obviously amped up on PCP’s and had a crazy 'Hannibal Lector' fixation. Fortunately one situation could be quickly covered up because the creature had left Hagrid’s skin and head in the drawer in the mortuary, unless someone decides to tissue type the skin and body.

Belinda's specialist arrives and takes over her treatment, finishing what I have already started (cleaning up the wound and re-sowing her stitches). Belinda then decides that the hospital is too dangerous as to be quite honest she is a sitting target. Initially the specialist is against releasing her but he is convinced by my credentials and releases her to my care.

By this time Kingfisher ward has been shut down and the other patients are moved as the ward, hospital and surrounding grounds are suddenly swarming with police and forensic teams. An inspector questions both Belinda and myself but we stick to our story. He appears sceptical but accepts our statements. I explain to Belinda that a lie is for the best in this case.

We decide that following his earlier example we need St John to track the creature hopefully it will be easier as the slime trail is probably more substantial than previously as the creature usually is surrounded by a human epidermis. I inform the Special Branch Inspector in charge that I am off to get specialist.

It is at this time I note that the creature has left quiet noticeable hole where it landed that means the creature must be quite an impressive weight. (We should be able to contact someone to ascertain the creature's mass from the evidence we have now; perhaps I should contact the dynamics lab at Cambridge, but I digress…)

I collect St John so that he can bring his dowsing rods and hopefully find were the creature has crept off to. As I pick him up I note that his friend Jules is back at the caravan and he informs me that it appears that the Harris woman failed to turn up at the Wagon and Horses. She has checked out of the hotel, however, surprisingly, her car is still in the hotel car park. Anyway that is mystery that is for another time.

Back at the Royal Wiltshire I inform St John of genuine events as they occurred not the story we are using. However I also fill him in on the cover story and then show him where the creature had landed. St John takes out his dowsing rods and as he steps near the hole the reaction is impressive as the rods cross quicker than I have seen them do previously.

He finds it fairly easy to track the creature, much to the scepticism of the watching Special Branch man. However the trail peters out where the creature entered a pond near the main gate.

After a long debate as to what we need to do next with St John suggesting a boat to check the pond. I suggest floodlights around the pond as the creature appears to be averse to bright lights. Eventually we are to discover that there is an underground stream and the creature has vanished into the night.

Adam attempts to use Geoffrey Baxter’s binoculars to aid us in ascertaining where the creature has gone. The binoculars don’t work for him at first but once he pricks his finger on the spike they work again. It appears that once someone pricks their finger they become the only person who can use them and the previous user is 'released', as it were.

At least I now understand Mavis’ statement regarding St Bartholomew, as it appears that the creature leaves its victims in much the same way as the old Mesopotanians.

My pager goes off and I take a look but don’t recognise the number. Making my way to a phone I dial the number and am surprised to get through to the deputy head of MI13 a man named Forbush (a strange man for a strange department; I suppose the guy dresses like a civil servant from the nineteen-sixties, complete with pin stripe suit, bowler hat and umbrella). He wishes an update on the situation and is strangely surprised when we inform him that we suspect this is the same creature that killed Dr Treadle. (Or at least I hope there’s only one!)

Forbush seems genuinely surprised that the weapons we used on it before had seemingly no effect but this came as no surprise to me. He finally appears to come around to my way of thinking that the creature is immune to modern weaponry. He suggests that we should use the 'mystical' and I inform him that we have also come to the same conclusion but unfortunately do not appear to have the spells for the job. (Strange: the guy must have been living in a hole for the last ten years or so as he appears to be unaware of Harry Potter or JK Rowling as I made a reference and he seemed to not know what I was talking about.)

Anyway both Adam and myself are instructed to attend a meeting in London. I suggested that we should bring Belinda with us, as she appears to be now a believer. Belinda seems a little reluctant but between Adam and myself convince her to come with us.

As we arrive at MI13 we are split up: Belinda is taken off to talk to Forbush to check her suitability as an agent whereas Adam and myself are ushered in to see Dame Ursula Howard Fiennes, the current head of MI13 (appointed on the demise of her predecessor Sir Humphrey in '78).

We inform her of what has occurred over the last year or so and also tell her of our suspicions that the creature we are hunting is in actual fact a shoggoth. She appears to be un-swayed by our arguments and attempts to convince us that the creature we are seeing is in fact a formless spawn, as the only reported incident of a shoggoth in known memory was in Antarctica were it was reportedly seen devouring penguins on the shore. (I had to fight the urge to make a smartarse remark at this time about how the heck would a formless creature get the silver paper off, as this is a serious situation.) She says that formless spawn are much more common so we must have made an error in identification.

She also refuses to set up a team to fight shoggoths until we confirm this was what it was. The only way she would authorise it would be if we confirmed our findings with the shoggoth expert, Mavis Endercott. (So Mavis and Lionel were both confirmed as ex members of MI13? Interesting! It's as we suspected, however it would appear that Lionel is a previous head of MI13.) We are told to visit Mavis in her flat in Camden as soon as possible.

Thursday 27th July:

We travel to Mavis’ place and are surprised to find her actually to be in residence. She invites us in when we inform her why we have come looking for her but I note that she does not appear to have much regard for Dame Ursula.

Oh god! Does the woman ever bathe or even wash? She reeks, and her apartment is even worse! Fortunately for me, Adam ends up with the wet patch on the settee but the floor is alive with a sea of fleas and ticks and when I leave my skin is red raw from the bites I have received. Oddly though there are strange ornaments adorning the room that appear to have mythos significance.

Mavis confirms what I have long suspected, that 'Squidgicum’ Squees' and 'Shoggoths' are one and the same. She also confirms my list of spells required to rid us of the creature but she does ask us where we intend to send the creature? Adam initially suggests the bottom of the sea but she is not convinced. I suggest that we should put it back were it came from, under Silbury Hill.

She informs us that there should be lock which holds it there. I assume this to be the old cap. We inform her about the plate in the base and she informs us this may also be some form of locking mechanism. We may have to remove this plate before the creature can enter.

Adam already has one of the spells required to rid us of the creature and he agrees to learn the second spell which is 'Summon Squidgicum Squee' whereas I will learn the final spell, 'Bind Squidgicum Squee'. Mavis informs us it will take a week of training for us to use the spells effectively.

Saturday 29th July:

On another matter it appears that Imelda Harris has finally turned up. There was a report in the paper on the 29^th July stating her body had been found in the Kennett by a naturalist by the name of William Tutin. This is two days after we reported her disappearance to MI13. She is too small to have been a host for the creature but I would still like to see the autopsy report; for instance, did the creature take her brain for the knowledge it may contain?

Monday 31^st July:

Two days later a nurse working at the Royal Berkshire goes missing from the car park the nurse’s name was Sue Mornington a big woman in excess of six feet in height recently transferred from Birmingham. A few things concern me about this as the woman and her husband bought their house from Barbara Smyth so the creature would have access to Barbara’s forwarding address putting not only Barbara but her family at risk (note to self how tall is Barbara’s husband). Also striking so close to the Royal Berkshire is getting a little close to home as would be proved more in the next couple of days.

Wednesday 2^nd August:

Sue Mornington’s husband makes a compassionate plea on the television for the kidnappers to return his wife. However, Sue Mornington is reported by several people to be seen walking around Reading. Looks like we have found the creature’s next victim.

Thursday 3^rd August:

By the end of the week I must have donated about a pint of blood to Mavis’ 'pets'. Some of the bites even require treatment as they have gone septic. I strongly suspect Mavis is hiding something as she always ensured that we left before the sun goes down and there appear to be some strange noises and once when she nearly forgot the time there was an incessant buzzing that was coming from somewhere other than the insects infesting the floor. (Have to check with Lionel if Mavis worked with anything involving flies or disease during her time at MI13).

Mavis informed us that the creature would only understand rudimentary commands so when we control it we cannot be ambivalent. Mavis also advised us that we can give it other commands as well as just sending it home. It may be a way to rid us of a possible thorn in our side, this Rodriguez character of the children of light for instance, but we would require more information on him if we were to bring this about. I am convinced that he had something to do with a lot of what has occurred.

In the news today is a major concern for me as there is a major incident at the Royal Berkshire. It is unclear exactly what happened but in interviews with several of my work colleagues, nurse Mornington was seen in the hospital questioning several doctors and nurses that were on duty. It is reported in several papers that she was reportedly asking “Where is she?” and “Where is 'Liza?'”

Obviously I aggravated the creature when I wrecked its attempt to get to Belinda and at the same time removed its Evans disguise. Obviously I am now a target for the creature’s wrath. I suppose this now means I can’t go home until this is all sorted. Otherwise I’m a sitting duck. Nurse Mornington’s body is later found hidden on the grounds of the Royal Berkshire; by this I assume they found a headless, skinless body covered in slime and that both her head and skin are as of yet unaccounted for.